Dear Community of Saints Families,

We are near the end of week two of K-8 full distance learning, and we are so proud of our staff and school families for how well we have pivoted and transitioned together! 

We want to hear from our families about their experience with distance learning this school year.  The experiences of our families matter to us.  Please look for an email from your student(s)' classroom teacher tomorrow, which will include a classroom specific survey.  We realize that every student(s)' school experience may be different, and we hope you are able to take the time to respond to a survey for each of your K-8 students!  Thank you for your continued partnership. 

We are in this together, and if there are ever any barriers that are preventing your students from accessing their Zoom call times and/or school resources, please let us know so that we can help your students feel and be successful.
 

Advent Resources:
In last week's newsletter, I forgot to attach our Advent Resources page, which can be found here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KTE7hr2p36BHo1wYYzevlOkwXsS6ud-8YusinfwSRWA/edit?usp=sharing

It is also posted on our website under "Resources".  We hope you find these resources informational and reflective, and that they provide your family with opportunities to prepare your hearts and minds for the arrival of Jesus!

 

District 197 Bus Meal Delivery:
Since December 7, School District 197 has been delivering daily breakfasts and lunches to children ages 1-18 at drop-off points throughout the district. No registration and no identification is required. Simply come to a drop-off point near you at the delivery time on school days and get meals for your children. Buses will wait 10 minutes at each site.

To find a drop-off point near you, check the district map below, find the route that covers your area, and check the drop-off points by route: https://www.isd197.org/departments/meals

Virtual Art Club:

Virtual Art Club will begin on Monday, Sept. 21. via Zoom and meets each Monday from 3:30-4:30pm. Art Club is for students grades 3rd-8th. This is a fun and free after school activity taught by Ms. Guiffre (Ms. G). Please sign up using the attached Art Club Google Form by Thursday 3pm each week you can pick up your Art Pack the next day Friday for Group B or the  following Monday for Group A. Students will explore and create art by practicing drawing, painting, oil pastels, 3D art, and much more. Please join us on Monday each week and let’s create some fabulous art together!

Virtual Drama Club:

St. Matthew Confirmation Class: COS 8th graders who have registered for the sacrament of Confirmation with St. Matthew Church in spring 2021 should attend the next monthly Confirmation class on Saturday, December 19, from 3 to 4 PM in the Social Hall, followed by Mass from 4:15 to 5:15 in St. Matthew Church. Candidates may stay after Mass that day and help decorate for Christmas, which is a service project opportunity. Please mark your calendar for the January “undecorating” time (another service project opportunity), which is Saturday, January 9, after the 4:15 Mass. The monthly Confirmation class for January is Wednesday, January 13, from 6:50 to 7:50 PM in church. 

St. Matthew First Reconciliation and First Communion Registration: COS families with children who would like to receive First Communion with St Matthew are invited to complete the registration form located here. Return the completed registration form to Janelle Rohr, Janelle@st-matts.org. Before registering, however, please review our COVID-19 precautions. Children in grades 2 and up may receive these sacraments if they have been baptized. If you also need to have your student baptized and would like to do that at St Matthew, contact parish secretary Linda Rivera at lrivera@st-matts.org or by calling her (651-224-9793) Monday-Thursday between 9 and 1. Our first required First Reconciliation/First Communion meeting for children and parents is on February 3, from 6:30 to 7:45.